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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

The World's Largest Refractor is in Jeopardy

While at the Adler today, I overheard a conversation about the possibility of the Yerkes observatory being sold and possibly torn down.

Upon checking the info, the news was indeed correct:

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December 15, 2004 |

Yerkes Observatory may soon have a new owner. The University of Chicago has considered selling the observatory's telescopes, buildings, and about 80 acres of lakefront property in southeastern Wisconsin "for decades," says director Kyle M. Cudworth, the only astronomer still working full time at the former research powerhouse. Now a sale seems imminent, and it remains unclear what the future holds for the observatory's century-old refractor (the world's largest), its Romanesque main building, and its two dozen employees.

Cudworth first learned in July that the university had received — and was close to accepting — an unsolicited offer for Yerkes from a developer hoping to build houses on the observatory's landscaped grounds. (Two sources peg the sale price at about $10 million.) Shortly thereafter, rumors of a likely sale prompted area resident Larry Larkin and a handful of neighbors to make a counteroffer. Larkin and his colleagues hope to acquire the property for Aurora University, whose George Williams campus abuts Yerkes on three sides. Both offers remain in effect, and several sources say that the University of Chicago may choose between them by late January.

More on the Story here: skyandtelescope.com/news/article_1408_1.asp
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Now, the Adler and the city of Chicago needs to move quickly on this, but of course science isn't a priority, but a big reflective bean in an overpriced Millennium Park is I guess. They were offered 10 million for the observatory, a paltry sum in the whole scheme of things.

The downward spiral of civilization continues.

[Centaur]

That's sad to hear. I remember my parents pointing out the observatory whenever we drove by to visit the cottage of friends in Delavan. The last time was nearly 50 years ago. Apparently advances in technology combined with local air and light pollution have rendered the site obsolete. That happens. It would be nice if Aurora University takes over the facility. If not, photos and memoirs will have to do.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Outcome for Yerkes remains unclear

February 21, 2006 in News

After more than four months of deliberation, the University remains undecided on the future of its deed to Yerkes Observatory, said Hank Webber, vice president of Community and Government Affairs, yesterday. Yerkes, a research branch of the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, is located in Williams Bay, Wisconsin, and houses the world’s largest refracting telescope.

Although Webber initially expected a decision on Yerkes to be made by “early winter,” he has now given the announcement date at “late winter, early spring,” estimating it at the end of March or early April.

“This has turned out to be a more complicated decision than we originally expected,” Webber said, citing “environmental issues raised, the need to fully analyze them, [and] the decision to ask the department to give extensive input to the future of the Observatory.”

Environmental concerns mainly focus on the designation of more than half of the property’s acres as “primary environmental corridor” by the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SEWRPC).

Because of this designation, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources would not approve sewer extension to any development proposal which would harm the water quality, according to a letter that Philip Evenson, executive director of SEWRPC, sent last month to Ted Parge, vice president for advancement at Aurora University—one of the two current bidders for Yerkes.

The town of Williams Bay has not had any public meetings about Yerkes. “Once the University decides, the successful purchaser would come to the Village with their proposal,” said Robert Carlson, Village administrator.

“The local town of Williams Bay controls what happens on that site,” Webber said. As for the observatory, Yerkes continues “very actively” in education and outreach, said Kyle Cudworth, professor of astronomy and astrophysics and director of Yerkes Observatory.

Full story here from the Maroon.com: maroon.uchicago.edu/news/articles/2006/02/21/outcome_for_yerkes_r.php

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A great Observatory and all efforts need to be taken to preserve it.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Observatory sale gets 2nd look

U. of C. may keep historic structure

The University of Chicago is rethinking its plan to sell the Yerkes Observatory, and the school may decide to retain the historic structure after all, the university's president said Friday.

"We're not all that close," Don Michael Randel told the Chicago Tribune editorial board. "We may end up keeping it and operating it ourselves."

The university put Yerkes on the block more than a year ago, attracting two competing bids. Its move touched off an outpouring of concern from community activists anxious to preserve the 79-acre scenic site along Geneva Lake, Wis., as well as from astronomy buffs worried about the future of a century-old landmark.

The university said it needed to sell the obsolete stargazing center to redirect its resources into teaching and cutting-edge research. In September a spokesman said the school intended to decide between the two rival bids sometime in "early winter."

But Randel said Friday he expects no deal to be reached anytime soon. And he raised the prospect of a decision being put off beyond July 1, when he is leaving the university for a new post heading the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Randel said Yerkes' neighbors are "not of one mind" on how the property should be used, and he sought to soothe concerns about whether the building would be preserved.

"There is absolutely no question about the sanctity of the observatory itself," he said. "We will do something responsible with that."

A private developer offered $10 million for the Yerkes site, pledging to keep the building and some of its grounds intact while building a luxurious spa and up to 100 new homes.

That bid is more than twice the $4.5 million offered by Aurora University, which operates the neighboring George Williams College campus. Aurora has proposed a lower-density project carving out just 11 home sites, while pledging to carry on the academic mission of the observatory.

The University of Chicago always retained the right to reject both bids, and Randel said Friday the school is "not committed to a developer."

Both bidders said they are interested and willing to wait.

"They need to take all the time they think they should to make the right decision," said a spokeswoman for Mirbeau Cos., the private developer.

"We continue to be open," said Ted Parge, Aurora's vice president for advancement. "It appears it's a much more complex situation than the University of Chicago anticipated."

Full story here: www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0603040122mar04,1,6429105.story?track=rss